NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted two more months to the Central Bureau of Investigation to complete its investigation into the corruption case in which former special director Rakesh Asthana was allegedly involved.
While giving time to the agency, Justice Vibhu Bakhru made it clear that no more extra time would be granted for the completion of the probe. The court was hearing a plea filed by the CBI seeking a three-month extension for completing the investigation into the case.
Last year, the agency had booked its own director Rakesh Asthana while accusing him of taking a bribe to clear Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Sana’s name from the case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi. The complaint had led to a full-blown public spat between the two bosses of the agency - Asthana and director Alok Verma - following which both were shunted out of the agency.
Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee, arguing for the agency, said that the probe in the case could not be completed as responses to Letters Rogatory sent to the USA and the UAE were awaited.
The counsel for the accused - Asthana, DSP Devender Kumar and businessman Manoj Prasad - opposed the CBI’s plea.
Meanwhile, the CBI also opposed the plea seeking quashing of a Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against Sathish Sana in connection with a corruption case allegedly involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi and the agency’s ex-director A P Singh.
The CBI said it was a case of serious corruption at sensitive positions and Sana could evade law and flee from justice, if the LOC is quashed.
CBI opposes quashing of Sana’s LOC plea
The CBI also opposed the plea seeking quashing of a Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against Sathish Sana in connection with a corruption case allegedly involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi and the agency’s ex-director A P Singh.
The CBI said it was a case of serious corruption at sensitive positions and Sana could evade law and flee from justice if the LOC is quashed.
The court asked the CBI to file an additional affidavit giving details of any new development in the case since the passing of the earlier order. It listed the matter for further hearing on November 5.